"What we're asking most of the job seekers to do is to seek a job of a morning and of an afternoon, and I think that is a reasonable request to make of our fellow Australians," Senator Abetz told Lateline.

The Federal Opposition says businesses will receive a deluge of fake job applications because of the rule changes.

Senator Abetz acknowledges there is a risk that people will apply for jobs - even ones they know they will not get - just to reach the target.

"I think that is a potentially fair criticism. We as a Government do not want box-ticking to take place," he said.

"We don't want red tape and inconvenience to employers but what we do want is a genuine attempt by the job seeker to obtain employment and with the help of a job service provider, we trust that that will assist them in redoubling their efforts to obtain employment."

Under the proposed changes, fit and healthy job seekers aged under 30 will have to sign up for 25 hours of work for the dole for at least half of each year.

Those aged between 30 and 50, or who are under 30 and have limited physical capacity to work, will be expected to do 15 hours of work for the dole every six months.

One study of the Work for the Dole scheme that operated under the former Howard government found it was the least effective way of making people more employable.

Senator Abetz says he has seen the program work under the Howard government, and there is "anecdotal evidence" of its success.

"It's all very well for people to throw stones. I simply ask what is the alternative, and regrettably nobody's come up with a better alternative for that particular area within our suite of policies," he said.

He says he is confident the evidence backs a widespread Work for the Dole program.

"To simply say to people 'It's too tough to look for a job, things are tough at the moment so we'll just allow you to live off welfare without actively seeking employment', is to do those individuals a great disservice," he told Lateline.

"[It] can often harm them for the rest of their lives, and we don't want to see that occurring for our fellow Australians.

"We see a bigger, better, brighter future for them, which is being gainfully employed."

The proposed new arrangements have been set out in tender documents for the government contract with employment service providers.